Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-09-23
Constitutional Convention Question.

through the press, meeting was nelu III
the Court Hall, ON Tuesday, the 18th inst,
at one o'clock, which was attended by rep
resentative men from all parts Of the county.
On motion Of Mr.. Victor Cushwa, Alex.
Armstrong, Esq, a member of the Mary
land Legislature, was chosen as president,
and on taking the chair made some earnest
and forcible remarks, in which be referred
10 the discussion of the subject at the last
session of the Legislature, when he had not
heard a single reason urged warranting the
expense Of such call. This point he en-
forced by reference to the debates at that
time.
A committee of gentlemen was appointed
to draft an address to the voters of Wash
ington county and resolutions expressing
the sentiment and views of the meeting,
which are as follows:
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS.
The people OF Washington county ire
spective of party in ss-meeting assembled
declare their opposition TO convention TO
frame new constitution. They regard II
as entirely unnecessary and burdensome TO
the people and contrary to the best interests
of the State
Article fifteen of the Declaration OF Rights
of the present constitution declares: THAT
every person in the State or person holding
property therein, ought to contribute his
proportion OF public taxes for the support
Of the Government, according to his actual
worth in real or personal property" Any
defect or inequality which may now exist
in taxation is due to legislation enacted in
violation of this declaration, and can, and
should be remedied by the Legislature.
No new constitution is needed for this pur-
pose, all corporate property should be taxed
which can be done without violating the
constitution Of the United States. The Leg
islature can do this and has as much power
TO do it as Constitution Convention could
possibly have.
Article three, Section 40, of the constitu-
ton says: 1.-THE General Assemblytshall pass
laws necessary for the preservation Of the
purity of elections" Here there is not only
authority but an obligation for the hegisla
ture TO enact such legislation as may be
necessary to secure free. and fair election
throughout the State. Ne new constitution
could confer more power or make more
sacred their obligation.
Whatever may be found by experience to
be defective in the present constitution, pro-
vision is made by the fourteenth article OF
the same fer amendment. This method is
simple and attended with but little neces-
sary expense. BY it the people of the State
and adopt what they approve and reject
what they regard as vicious, and are not
compelled TO accept what they disapprove,
as they must do in adopting new consti-
tuition In its entirety.
The people of Washington county feel a
deep interest in that great work of internal
improvement, the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal, and in its preservation as public
water highway. 1t has been repeatedly
asserted that certain railroad corporations
are ready to seize it and destroy it as q
water highway and thus bring disaster and
ruin upon many of our people. We wish
Ia guard against such calamity with q
Jealous eye The present constitution pro
tects it from the hands Of the spoliator and
prohibits the sale of the States interest in IL
until said sale is ratified by the ensuing
General Assembly.
The present judiciary system of the State
has proven satisfactory. The people shave
had Justice and right, freely, without sale
fully without any denial and speedily with.
out delay, according to the law of the land"
The INDEPENDENCE and uprightness Of the
Judges essential to the impartial administers
| ton OF Justice, and q great security to the
rights and liberties of the people are recog-
nized by all. To legislate them cut of office
by Constitutional Convention and supply
their places by dependent politicians would
be calamity too fearful to contemplate.
The expenses incurred in having a con-
vention, would, beyond question be very
large. First, there would have to be an
election with the attending expenses of reg
istration 10 select delegates TO the conven'
ton; then the cost of holding the conven
ton, with numerous officers and attendants
with no limit as TO the length of time the
printing Of the proceedings, and perhaps
the debates, and the printing OF the new
constitution; then the holding Of another
election TO vote upon the adoption or rejec-
ton of the new constitutions then another
election to elect new judges and other officers
or elect them at an exciting Presidential
election, which no good citizen would de-
sire, and finally an extra session of the Leg
islature to enact laws rendered necessary by
change of the constitution. The expenses
and cost Of all these would be not less than
five or six hundred thousand dollars to be
borne by the people, which would either re-
quire additional taxation or misappropria-
ton Of funds already collected from the
people to pay the public debt. At time
when the agricultural and other interests OF
the State are suffering and heavy taxation
already burdening the people, we most
solemnly protest against this additional and
useless burden.
In addition TO all this, experience has
taught us that by the holding Of two or
three extra elections, in one year the indus
trial interests Of the State will be seriously
and detrimentally affected, and the turning
out OF all the officers of the State, including
those whe will be elected this fall, as would
surely be the case If a new constitution be
adopted, be an injustice to the officers them
selves and prejudicial TO the best INTEREST OF
the entire State.
In order 10 defeat a measure which can
result In no good, but would impose addi-
tional taxation and be productive Of much
harm and be injurious to the material in
terest and welfare Of the State, we earnestly
call upon all citizens TO unite with us in
casting their votes against the convention
We recommend the adoption Of the fol-
lowing resolutions.
/. Resotced, That the people of Washing.
ton county request their fellow-citizens oil
the respective counties and of the city OF
Baltimore, to organize and by their votes to
declare against measure not required by
any public necessity, but necessarily attend
ed with great expense and many possible
dangers to the welfare and prosperity of the
commonwealth.
3. Resolved, That in order to secure almost
q unanimous vote in this county against the
call for convention TO frame a new consti-
tuition, the president of this meeting be
authorized TO appoint committee Of six
three OF each political party in each Of the
twenty-three election districts Of this county
TO bring this important matter more fully to
the attention of the people and furnish them
with the proper tickets upon the day of the
election.
Resoloed, That we call upon our fellow
citizens of the counties, Of the State and
city TO appoint In mass meeting, or other
wise as they may determine, ten delegates
from each county and each legislative dis
trict Of the City Of Baltimore to assemble in
convention in the City Of Baltimore on the
day of-1S87, at 10 NJ, to formulate
an address 10 the people of Maryland, ex-
pressive of their views in opposition to a
Constitutional Convention and to adopt such
measures as they may see At to enlighten